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e <br /> °3C SIERRA CLUB <br /> a v4--jo z Many Rivers Group <br /> r: 4 a P.O. Box 11211 <br /> s `~ Eugene OR 97440 <br /> September 16, 1997 <br /> Ms. Vicki Elmer, Manager <br /> City of Eugene <br /> 777 Pearl Street <br /> Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Dear Ms. Elmer: <br /> This letter comes to you on behalf of the approximately 3,000 members of the Many <br /> Rivers Group of the Sierra Club. We are concerned with a number of issues <br /> regarding the plan to remove so -called "hazard trees" from Hendricks Park, the <br /> justification for their removal and the process by which the decision is being made. <br /> As you are aware, the City of Eugene was originally informed by a local tree care <br /> company that 88 trees had a very high to extreme hazard rating (7 or 8, on a scale of <br /> 8). Very soon after receiving that report, the city began removing a number of these <br /> trees. Of the nine (9) live trees removed initially, only 3 or 4 were found to have <br /> significant biological or structural problems. At that point, the city undertook a closer <br /> examination of the trees scheduled for destruction and concluded that only 18 needed <br /> to be felled. <br /> In response to considerable public controversy over both the original estimate of 88 <br /> trees and the second estimate of 18 trees to be removed, the city commissioned a <br /> citizen committee to review the situation in greater detail. The overwhelming <br /> majority of the committee proposed removal of 3 trees and close monitoring of the <br /> other 15. This seemed to mesh well with the decision being reached by urban forester <br /> Scott Plamondon. In a phone conversation I had with him on September 5, 1997, he <br /> indicated that based upon results from additional core samples and review by state <br /> forest pathologist Alan Kanaskie and county extension forester Mike Cloughesey, he <br /> would probably recommend immediate removal of 3 to 6 trees and monitoring of the <br /> remainder. This position was reiterated at the beginning of the city/committee <br /> meeting on Monday, September 8, 1997. However, near the end of that meeting, this <br /> decision was apparently overruled with the statement that all 18 trees will be removed <br /> before the onset of this year's storm season. <br /> • <br /> t. <br /> 1 <br /> .. .To explore, enjoy and preserve the nation's forests, waters, wildlife, and wilderness... <br />